How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (The Classic Collection)

With zany rhymes and distinctive black and red illustrations, this classic seasonal story has become a favourite for good reason. In the end, the story of the ghastly Grinch has something to teach us all about the true meaning of Christmas. --Rachel Ediss

Reader Reviews:

Grumpy Grinch? (8/8 people found this helpful)

Characters:
The Grinch, Cindy-Lou Who, the Whovilles and Max the Dog are the characters in the book.

Plot:
The Grinch hates Christmas, the Whovilles love it. The Grinch hates the Christmas feast, the noise of the children and he especially hates the singing. He wants to get rid of Christmas once and for all. Suddenly, Grinch has an awful idea - he would steal anything and everything to do with Christmas. So he dressed up as Santa Claus and put a horn and a red nose on Max, then on Christmas Eve he got into his sled and off he went to take all the presents. At his first house he starts taking things and when only the tree is left, Cindy Lou who is barely two wakes up! She asks the Grinch "Santa, where are you taking our Christmas to? The Grinch thinks quick and snappy and lies that he is taking it to fix a light bulb at his workshop...

Favourite:
I like this book because it all rhymes the whole way through.

Worst Part:
I think it is not nice that the Grinch left only a crumb to small for a mouse!

For:
Everyone would love this brilliant piece of work by the author of The Cat in the Hat.

Yes, it comes round all the year, never fear, ye, never fear (3/4 people found this helpful)

In my last Seuss-an rhyme I lied
Even though I really tried
And really bad for one completely
training to be oh so priestly

But how could I forget this story
How could it not get some glory
For the Grinch is each of us
In our cars or on the bus

We go our ways and think we're not
We really think we're very hot
But little things can mean a lot
One small voice can hit the spot

And just who are these Who's who sing?
What new learning can they bring?
Where would we be without the tale
That Christmastime will never fail

For humankind will always strive
So long as we remain alive
To capture for that briefest time
Community most real, sublime

Regardless of your race or creed
Virtue or heroic deed
Or even the most evil kind
Rarely will be left behind

For grace will work in ways most wondrous
For an event that comes most thund-rous
And, albeit, unexpected
Though, confessing, was expected

But joy surrounds us, everyone
Old as dirt and very young
And we will learn it most completely
Not obtuse and not obliquely

The wonderful tale by Dr. Seuss, 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', has become such as part of the culture that it is difficult to think of Christmas without it. To be a Grinch is as understood in the common vernacular as to be a Scrooge, another literary adaptation. The adaptation for television made this a ubiquitous story, but the book is where the truly glory lies, in the story. Again, in true Seussian character, the vocabulary is small and the rhyming schemes simple, all the better to make sure that children and learning and remembering, not just language, but also imagination and creativity.

Pros
A grinch who changes, a Who who hopes
Cons
Nothing here that fails or slopes

The best of what it is (5/5 people found this helpful)

I pondered the idea of writing this review as Dr. Seuss would, but I didn't want to try and fall on my face. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is one of those children's books that are almost flawless (right up there with "Where the Wild Things Are"). The Grinch has spent years looking down at Whoville and hating the Whos for their joy, and especially at Christmas time. He decides to put an end to their joy by masquerading as Santa and stealing Christmas. Of course, it doesn't go exactly the way he planned.

The story's beauty comes from three sources: the heart in the story, the way it's written, and the maturity of the approach. By "the heart" I mean that it deals with a transformation of the Grinch that could be called an epiphany. It ranks right up there with the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" and the transformation of Oskar Schindler in "Schindler's List." Some might see that as exaggeration, and the Grinch is certainly a different character from Schindler, but the transformations are comparable. The character finds a much better way to live.

I think everyone knows what I mean by "the way it's written" but, just in case, I'll say a little on the subject. Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote some of the best, most lyrical, most amusing poetry in history. The only reason he isn't routinely grouped with The Great Poets of History is that his poetry was very (and beautifully) simplistic and designed for children.

By "the maturity of the approach" I mean that this is a children's book that hits the perfect tension level for children. It does not treat that them as totally fragile (Santa gets kidnapped, Christmas almost gets sabotaged, Max the dog is treated as a slave) but it also relieves them and rescues them from their fears in a well-paced and realistic way that mirrors how parents can talk to their children about real-life fears and scary incidents.

'He himself, the Grinch stole Christmas!' (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is a glorious Dr. Suess tale! This story pokes out a few reminders of Scrooge, but nevertheless this book is the one for beginners! 'Dr. Suess's How The Grinch Stole Christmas' is about a black-hearted creature called, The Grinch and he loathes Christmas and he wishes to take Christmas on, and destroy this festive season! Until one dark night he has a wondeful, awful idea to steal Christmas once and for all! But will his evil plan work? Let's hope not...
Here's an extract from the story so that you have a few helpful hints so you know what the theme of the story is:

'The Grinch hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season!',
'Now, please don't ask why, no-one quite knows the reason!'
'Maybe because his head wasn't screwed on just right,'
'It could be perhaps that his shoes were to tight,'
'But I think the most likely reason of all'
'Maybe his heart was two sizes, two small...'

Better than the movie!!! (2/2 people found this helpful)

'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' is one of my favroite Christmas books of all time. It is lovely, it's sweet, easy-reading (as the the rhyming Dr. Suess always does) and it's a little bit like 'Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol'. The Grinch loathes Christmas, and he always wants to ruin it and until he plots to STEAL Christmas! Will his sinsister plot work? When I saw the film entitled simply, 'The Grinch' I adored it, but when I read the orignal Dr. Suess book, it profoundly and strangely took my breath away!!! This should be recommened to any Dr. Suess, or so to speak, 'The Cat In The Hat' fan! Dr. Suess is one of my favroite authors as well as Roald Dahl!!!

From a humongous Roald Dahl fan:
Max William James Keogh
P.S: When I grow up, I want to be a author like Roald Dahl!!!
Age 12

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (The Classic Collection)

Dr. Seuss

Editorial Review: